ANKARA/ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Turkey and the United States won for the second day in a row at the FIBA World Championship for Women to clinch first place in their respective groups and spots in the Quarter-Finals.

Spain and the Czech Republic also prevailed to set up a battle for Group A supremacy, and both Australia and Belarus won their games to set up a Group C showdown for first.

Two of the most exciting clashes were played in Istanbul, with Belarus coming back from a late deficit to stun Cuba, 70-69, and the USA having to withstand a gallant effort by Serbia for three quarters before pulling away for a 94-74 triumph.

Belarus, who were pushed to the limit in their opener by Korea before winning in the final minute, trailed Cuba 69-58 with 3:19 to go but hit back.

First Nadzeya Drozd drilled a long three-pointer with 36 seconds to play and then, after a couple of missed free-throws from Cuba's Oyanaisy Gelis, Katsiaryna Snytsina buried a three from the left corner with 14 seconds to go.

Cuba had an opportunity to reclaim the lead but Leidys Oquendo was off target with a jumper.

That result means that Belarus will face Australia on Tuesday for first place because the Opals, who had won their opener against Cuba, hammered Korea in Sunday's first game in Istanbul, 87-54.

Laura Hodges had 14 points and four other Opals hit double digits in points.

Cuba will now take on Korea for third place in Group C and the right to play in the Qualifications for the Quarter-Finals.

The loser of the Australia v Belarus game will finish second and also play in in the Qualifications for the Quarter-Finals.

Also in Istanbul, China blew out Angola 65-39 in Group D to eliminate the Africans from the tournament.

Angola's game against the USA on Tuesday will now have no bearing on the competition.

Shao Ting had 14 points for the Chinese.

The last game of the evening in Istanbul saw Serbia push the USA hard.

Ana Dabovic had 22 of her 24 points in the first half and Serbia trailed 49-42.

Maya Moore was the pick of the USA players in the first half, both with her three-point shooting and her defense.

Serbia continued to fight and only trailed 67-64 with 1:21 go go in the third but the USA turned on the style in the fourth quarter with Diana Taurasi scoring the majority of her 20 points.

Serbia and China will face off on Tuesday for second place in Group D.

In Ankara, tournament hosts Turkey followed up their 50-48 triumph over France with a 55-44 win over Canada.

Lara Sanders finished with 18 points for Turkey.

The Czech Republic made it to the Final of the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women as the host nation.

Four years later and the Czechs are 2-0.

After knocking off Brazil in Group A on opening day, the Czechs came from behind to defeat last year’s FIBA Asia Championship winners Japan 71-57.

Down 47-40, the Czechs went on a 13-4 run over the last 4:25 of the third quarter to lead 53-51.

Katerina Elhotova then sparked a 7-0 spurt at the start of the fourth quarter for a 60-51 lead and the Czechs never turned back.

Petra Kulichova's 19 points and Elhotova's 18 led the Czechs.

Japan weren't able to capitalize on five Michiko Miyamoto three-pointers. She finished with a team-high 16 points.

France began the day in Ankara with an 89-45 Group B victory over Mozambique.

Valerie Garnier's team put the disappointment of being edged out by the Turks on Saturday to score an emphatic win.

Sandrine Gruda had 19 points and seven rebounds for the French.

Spain improved to 2-0 with an 83-56 rout of Brazil. Alba Torrens and Sancho Lyttle each had 15 points for the Spaniards.

Spain and the Czechs will square off for first place on Tuesday while Brazil and Japan will meet with third place and a spot in the Qualifications for the Quarter-Finals at stake.

France and Canada go face to face in a battle for second place while Mozambique have no chance of moving on in the competition.

FIBA